Thinking of buying or adopting
a Keeshond?

Keeshond Overview

The Keeshond is a medium-sized Spitz-type breed with a characteristic luxurious double coat of silver and black with distinctive harness markings, a lion-like ruff, and spectacles. The breed also has small dark triangular ears and a curled tail. The Keeshond is one of the German breeds and is closely related to the other German spitz-type dogs such as the Pomeranian. It was originally used to guard barges in Holland which earn him the nickname the “Dutch Barge Dog”. It was originally called the German Spitz or Wolfspitz but later renamed to Keeshond in 1926 in England. The Keeshond is a short, compact dog with a wedge-shaped head, a medium-length muzzle with well-defined stop and small triangular ears similar to that of a fox. The tail is well feathered and curled over the back. Male Keeshonds are more muscular than females. The Kennel Club of UK sets the ideal height for males at 46cms and 43cms for females while the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) sets the standard height at 48.9cms. The average weight is between 14kg to 18kg.

Keeshond Characteristics

Intelligence

Intelligence

All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.

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Exercise Needs

Exercise Needs

All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.

Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.

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Dogs Health

Dogs Health

There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.

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Child Friendly

Child Friendly

There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.

Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.

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Apartment

Apartment

There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.

Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.

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Shedding

Shedding

All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.

If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.

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Grooming Needs

Grooming Needs

All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.

Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.

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Barking

Barking

Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.

Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.

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Alone

Alone

Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.

Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.

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Trainability

Trainability

There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.

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Energy Levels

Energy Levels

All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.

High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.

Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.

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Dog friendly

Dog friendly

Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.

There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.

Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.

Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.

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History & Origin

The Keeshond was originally known as the German Spitz or more specifically, the Wolfspitz. It was named after the 18th-century Dutch Patriot Cornelis “Kees” de Gyselaer, leader of those who rebelled against the House of Orange. “Hond” is the Dutch word for dog. In the Netherlands, all German spitz-type dogs are known as “keeshonden”, from the toy Pomeranian to the Wolfspitz or Keeshond. The first standard for the Wolfspitz was written in 1880 in Berlin and after almost two decades, the Club for German Spitzes was established and the breed standard revised two years later, specifying the characteristic colours that we know today. The Nederlandse Keeshond Club was organized in 1924 while the Dutch Barge Dog Club of England was formed in 1925 through the efforts of Mrs. Wingfield-Digby and was accepted into the Kennel Club of UK in 1926 when the breed name and the club were renamed to Keeshond.

Keeshond Temperament

Described by avid breed fans and owners as a confident, alert, and friendly dog. It has a playful tendency, lightning fast reflexes including a very strong jumping ability. The Keeshond has a very alert disposition and has a very loud, distinctive bark which makes it an excellent watchdog. It is a friendly breed, eager to please its owners and learns very quickly, or to put it in another perspective, learns both good and bad things easily. Because of its athleticism and quick learning abilities, the Keeshond excels in dog sports such as agility events and obedience training and can be successfully trained as a guide dog for the blind. It is also very innate and compassionate and can be an excellent comfort dog for the sick and elderly. It loves children and most of the time prefers to be with its human family and tends to be very clingy.

Training

It is an easy dog to work with, as far as training goes. The Keeshond shows a high level of brightness both in working trials and obedience training. It ranks high in Stanley Coren’s “The Intelligence of Dogs” owing to its excellent working/obedience intelligence. The very affectionate Keeshond is an excellent pet for a first-time dog owner who has no prior experience in dog training. However, consistent and fair handling is a must, as with other dog breeds because a harsh training method will do no good to a Keeshond. Timidity also runs in the blood and it is also important to train the Keeshond to respect but not fear the owner and the family. Socialisation from an early age plays a key role in raising a well-balanced adult Keeshond.

Grooming

The profuse double coat of the Keeshond needs regular brushing in order to stay neat and healthy. Spending an hour a week on meticulous brushing will keep the coat in pristine condition and free from mattes and tangles. The coat will naturally keep itself clean by shedding dirt when dry and does not have a strong doggy odour unlike other breeds, so bathing frequently is not necessary. The coat should also not be shaved as this helps protects the dog from the harmful rays of the sun and other skin irritants. However, there are some owners that like to clip their dog’s coat during the summer season.

Health

In general, the Keeshond is a very healthy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 years to 15 years. There are some hereditary health issues seen in some Keeshonden but these are uncommon in the general population. Among them are hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, canine epilepsy, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and hyperthyroidism. There are some Keeshonden that have been known to suffer from Von Willebrand’s disease but are very rare.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the key activities that must be remembered when owning a Keeshond. This intelligent breed has the tendency to entertain itself by inventing its own activities when bored, often being destructive like digging or chewing on anything it can sink its teeth on. It needs a lot of attention from the owner and requires a lot of activities, like daily long walks in order to remain happy. An hour of daily exercise is enough to channel a lot of its excess energy.

Children and other pets

The Keeshond is a very adaptable and friendly breed that loves children and prefers to be close to its human family whenever possible. It generally gets along well with other dogs and will often enjoy chasing or be chased by other house dogs around the yard or garden. It is a gentle, easy-going, and loveable dog and gets along well with other household pets including cats. It does not hold bitterness with other animals and it is a hard-to-provoke dog which makes it a wonderful addition to the family.